Words of Encouragement

You are Not Alone

Boy oh boy, what a month April has been! Where do we go from here and how do we continue caring for ourselves during these difficult times? It’s up to you! While we are all self-isolating, your continued mental health should be your TOP priority. An important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Billions of people around the world are uniting in an effort to combat Covid-19 and you are one of them!

Take comfort in the fact that humanity is in this together, and we will get through this together. Feeling like “the world is ending” is common, but does not contribute towards combating the virus or maintaining a strong state of mind. Maintaining your routine of care is vital for your overall health.

Silver Linings

Something I have been doing that has been very helpful is finding the silver lining in an otherwise negative outlook. Instead of saying “I can no longer see my family and friends at will”, try “this is a great opportunity to start a new tradition” (e.g. video hangouts on Sunday mornings). It goes without saying that during this lull in activity, the opportunity for new creative new hobbies abound! Amazon is still delivering, so buy an adult coloring book and a nice set of new colored pencils and enjoy a quiet afternoon feeding your creative side, while ignoring the 24/7 news-cycle that will only bring you another anxiety inducing headline. Find a sunny place in your home and spend thirty minutes with your eyes closed reminding yourself of the multitude of blessings in your life. Listening to music, exploring new music, or playing music can be an effective means for mood improvement, distraction, and relaxation.

Things are never as bad as they seem, and often times, we inflate the negative, while ignoring what makes the world around us so beautiful. The birds are still chirping and the sun is still shining.

Lean on Each Other

In trying times, sometimes we need a little extra help or someone to lean on. Bay Psychiatric Associates will continue to be here to provide services for our patients who are continuing care as well as new patients hoping to receive an initial consultation. To finish I would like to remind you of the timeless song by Bill Withers:

“Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow, but if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow, lean on me…” – Bill Withers